The Conservatives will ask the British people in a referendum before the end
of 2017: “Do you think that the United Kingdom should remain a member of the
European Union?”

David Cameron's party today published draft laws setting out plans to hold a poll on Britain's membership of the EU by December 31, 2017.

In an unprecendented step, the Conservatives published the draft laws without the backing of the Liberal Democrats, as their Coalition partners oppose the idea.

The text of the bill asks whether people would like to "remain" in the EU, rather than "leave" it or "be" in it, prompting accusations it is weighted towards Britain staying in.

William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, said the draft laws throw down the gauntlet to all the other main political parties, who have not committed to giving the public a say over the European Union.

“David Cameron has said if he is Prime Minister, there will be an in-out referendum in the next Parliament and that in this Parliament, we will look at all options to underline the fact that our commitment to the referendum is absolute," he said.

"We will examine all opportunities to bring this bill before Parliament, including as a private members’ bill.”

The Conservatives have rushed out the draft Bill to show that they are serious about an EU referendum, which Mr Cameron pledged will happen within five years in February.

This week, he appears to have hurried up the publication as backbench Tory MPs are planning a vote to condemn the Coalition's lack of action on the EU.

More than 100 backbench Tories are expected to back an amendment on Wednesday criticising the Government's Queen's Speech for failing to contain plans for an EU referendum. Ministers are expected to abstain.

Despite the growing conflict within the Conservatives, Mr Hague today told BBC Radio Four's Today programme this morning that the Government is "relaxed" about the amendment and understood why backbenchers were "frustrated".

Sources said the Tory leadership has been trying to kill off Wednesday's vote, but the Foreign Secretary insisted there was no concern over the amendment.

"When all the dust settles on the speculation about this, one thing will become very clear when there is such a vote, which is the Conservative party is very much behind and committed to this policy, and other parties are either setting their faces against it or aren't sure what to do," he said.

He also denied the draft laws are a response to the success of the eurosceptic party Ukip in the local election. He argued they have been planned ever since February, when Mr Cameron promised a referendum by 2017.

The draft laws proposed by David Cameron have little chance of actually being passed as the Liberal Democrats and Labour would oppose them.

Mr Hague also admitted there is a chance there will not even be any time for a vote on them in parliament, although he said there would be an "effort" to debate them.

Tory rebels today indicated that any efforts by Number 10 to avoid a vote on their amendment will fail, saying the draft laws are "second best".

"It's a step in the right direction, but Number 10 knows that this option could possibly fail," John Baron, a Tory MP, told BBC Radio Four's Today programme. "It's a second best offer, so to speak."

Mr Cameron has already promised a vote on membership of the Europe Union before 2017, after he has attempted to re-negotiate Britain's relationship with Brussels.

However, many Conservatives fear voters do not trust the Government to keep this pledge. The success of the eurosceptic UK Independence Party in the local elections and recent by-elections has intensified their worries.

As a result, a large number of Conservatives are likely to vote in favour of the amendment and against the Coalition's programme of laws set out in the Queen's Speech.

The amendment has not yet been approved by John Bercow, the Speaker of the House of Commons, but it is likely to be accepted and taken to a vote on Wednesday.